Lincoln Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Lincoln sheep breed is the biggest of the British breeds of sheep and was primarily breed for its long lustrous wool. They are quite an old breed that are found in many countries in the world today mainly for their wool and meat production.

LINCOLN SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
They are a hardy breed and the one of if not the biggest of the sheep breeds
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Other Names:	Lincoln Longwool
Breed Size:	Large
Main Purpose:	Meat and wool
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Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat,
Temperament:	Calm, docile and alert
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most climates
Conservation Status:	Listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Threatened. They are also listed with the Rare Breed Survival Trust
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Intermediate sheep farmers/keepers
Sheep Associations:	National Lincoln Sheep Breeders Association and the Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders Association
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to the National Lincoln Sheep Breeders Association and the Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders Association for more information
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Lincoln sheep breed is the biggest of the sheep breeds and has a heavy coated, long square, well-muscled body and legs. Their wool hangs as locks over the forehead often covering their eyes much like that of the Old English sheep dogs. Their legs are usually covered with wool up to their hocks although some have wool that completely covers the legs especially their hind legs.

Color(s):

White although there are a few other colors or natural colors.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	91 to 114 kgs	110 to 160 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear they are Large breed	Unclear they are Large breed
Hair:	The sheep have heavy locks of long hair that can be ringleted near the ends.	The sheep have heavy locks of long hair that can be ringleted near the ends.
Ears:	Medium to small pointed ears that are alert to the sides of their head	Medium to small pointed ears that are alert to the sides of their head
Horns:	No horns/Polled	No horns/Polled
Matures at age:	10 weeks/15 months or 15 years	10 weeks to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 12 months	5 to 7 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Ewe Breeding & Milking Info.	Cover 5 to 10 Ewes in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
The ewes breed once a year and mostly produce enough milk to wean their lambs. They are not a very prolific breed although they do not need much birthing assistance. They are excellent mothers with great maternal instincts.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/13 to 19 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 to 2 (twins)
Lactation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days
Milking From:	4 to 6 weeks after lambing
Milk Quality:	Good – ***NDS, Quantity: Ave. 180 to 495 liters, Per: Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs
Note: *DS – stands for Dairy Sheep * NDS – stands for Non-Dairy Sheep
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SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Lincoln sheep breed has a fine tasting meat that is lean and succulent. The lambs are relatively fast growers but can be left to take on heavier weights without compromising the leanness of their meat.

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality:Good with a great grain and meat to bone ratio

SHEEP ⇒	LAMB	HOGGET/MUTTON
Approx. Maturity Weight:	20 kgs	30 kg
Approx. Maturity Age:	5 to 6 months	9 to 12 months

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Lincoln sheep breed produces and exceptionally fine fleece of wool. It is long, with a beautiful flowing crimp and is really lustrous.

Wool Production?

Yes, Quality: Very good quality. Bradford count is 40 to 36

Wool is used to Produce:

Doll making, hand spinning, hand crafting, felting and many other crafts.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	10 to 15 cm	10 to 15 cm
Microns:	36 to 40	36 to 40
Approx. Quantity:	Up to 9 kgs per year	Up to 9 kgs per year

SHEEP SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They are not primarily bred for their sheep skin production. Although their skin is or has at some time been used for the production of some form of sheep skin product such as chamois, etc.

Skin Production?

N/A

Skin is used to Produce:

Kid skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, etc.
Chamois cloths, leather goods such as seats, shoes and other garments and leather materials such as furniture, etc.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather	3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE LINCOLN SHEEP
A few more interesting facts to know about the breed
Child-Friendly?	No livestock should be left unattended around children
Landscape Management?	They are good for landscape managements and bush clearing
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the National Lincoln Sheep Breeders Association and the Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders Association for more information
General Information:	The Lincoln sheep breed is the largest of the British breeds of sheep and plays an important role in the Bristish wool industry. They were bred specifically to have a long lustrous coat of wool that would produce a heavy amount of fleece.

HISTORY

Around the 1750’s Lincolnshire in England was an important wool producing area. They were used in the Leicester breeding program by Robert Bakewell.

The breed was not just known for its top-quality wool but also for its delicious and tender meat that it produced.
They are a rare breed today still from the decline in the popularity of wool and the increase in popularity and need for the Down breeds of sheep for meat production.

The Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders Association was begun in 1892 around the time the breed was being exported throughout the world.
It still remains a rare breed listed by both the Rare Breed Survival Trust and the American Livestock Conservancy.

The Lincoln sheep breed came to America sometime in the 1800’s and the National Lincoln Sheep Breeders Association was started in 1891 with a membership of 150 by 1991, of which one third of the members were Canadian.